Earlier this summer I was invited by the West Linn Public Library and the West Linn Alliance to participate in an interview for a time capsule project called “Celebrate our Stories.” Because the interviews were done on the same day, but not as part of the City’s Juneteenth Event, I wasn’t certain I would participate. For after all, what I do know is that voices like mine, white and privileged, have been given power and voice since before Oregon became Oregon. I believe that we white people need to listen and learn especially during Juneteenth celebrations and commemorations.

After taking time to understand the project, though, I decided to be part of the interview and joined a handful of others. I’d be lying if I didn’t admit to feeling vulnerable. I felt more comfortable as I was reminded the goal of the project was to document our voices of 2023; and to give us something to look back on years from now. Someday when we have achieved greater freedom and equality for everyone, I’d add with hope.

This is a topic I have spent time thinking about and struggling over, long before I began writing my memoir. I decided to share the audio recording publicly here on my blog with a few of my sentiments. I thank the West Linn Public Library and the West Linn Alliance for making this effort to allow residents to honestly share their stories now and, perhaps, into the future.

As I shared in the audio interview below, I’ve often thought about how I would love to have an open conversation with my third great grandmother, Chloe Clark Wilson. After all, at 21 she decided to devote her life, leave family from the East Coast while believing she’d never see them again, and travel into the unknown: Oregon Country not yet part of the United States. She was single, and only allowed to join the Jason Lee Methodist Expedition because she was invited to be the teacher. Teaching to her meant furthering the Christian message among Indigenous People of Oregon. Like many today, I’m troubled by the missionaries and other white folks’ lack of foresight and understanding of centuries of cultural and spiritual practices of Native Americans. It is fitting that this effort failed, but not without severe losses between and among Indigenous Peoples. Chloe went on to be known as the first teacher at today’s Willamette University. (Learn more about Chloe and family.)

Chloe Dusts Her Mantel was published by Chloe Clark Willson’s granddaughter, Frances Gill, in 1935. Frances was a teacher at Lincoln High in Portland. Family believes some parts of this book to be fictionalized.

Although not privileged by gender, Chloe did have the opportunity to be educated. She too chose to marry a white, educated man 31 days after meeting him at Nisqually Mission. Educational opportunities and expectations span generations within my family. Another privilege many don’t have fair and reasonable access to, even today. As an example, my second great grandmother Frances was of the first graduates of Willamette University; both her sisters graduated as well, all in the mid-1800s.

I have experienced a mix of emotions as I feel pride for my family’s place here in Oregon, while understanding that –while they were not slave owners and felt they were honoring a Christian message– they too played a role in being part of Oregon’s exclusionary and racist history. Freedom and equality for all people takes too long. And in those small changes, perhaps I too must recognize that my grandparents and parents would not as clearly have recognized the things we openly talk about today. My adult children have very different feelings about their place in Oregon’s history than I, and although that might make my grandparents sad, I’m grateful for that change.

I appreciate my writers’ group more than I can express. In sharing this blog with them, they suggested I write a fictitious conversation with my third great grandmother, Chloe. And to that I say…stay tuned.

With that lead in, here’s my interview.